The BBC has admitted that it “could have done better” in its bid to offer due impartiality in a Newsnight discussion surrounding GB News.
On an episode of the programme earlier this week, Tory MP Caroline Nokes called for The People’s Channel to be “taken off air” amid a row sparked by comments made by Laurence Fox on Dan Wootton Tonight.
Fox had made a series of remarks about political journalist Ava Evans on Tuesday evening which GB News has described as “totally unacceptable”. Both him and the programme's host have been suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The channel has since issued an apology to Evans.
The BBC has spoken out on the impartiality row after a letter to director general Tim Davie
PARLIAMENT / BBC
In a discussion regarding the future of GB News on BBC Newsnight, Tory MP Caroline Nokes, broadcaster Adam Boulton and presenter of ‘When it Hits the Fan’, David Yelland, each made disparaging remarks about the channel’s operation, with two calling for it to be shut down.
In an email to GB News presenter and Conservative MP Philip Davies, Newsnight editor Stewart Maclean admitted the discussion would have been “fuller and more balanced” had the BBC found someone to “robustly defend the channel”.
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Speaking on the BBC’s wider coverage of Wootton and Fox, Maclean added that GB News was contacted to take part in the programme, something Victoria Derbyshire had made clear on air.
“I’m sure you understand from your own broadcasting as a GB News presenter that it is sometimes impossible to predict exactly the direction that a live item might go, and also how difficult it can sometimes be to find the right combination of guests”, Maclean wrote.
“It is worth pointing out that it is not accurate to say that all three guests argued for GB News to be shut down.
“It is also the case that each guest was well qualified to give their views on a discussion that was wider than simply GB News itself but which covered broader questions about the UK’s broadcasting regulatory environment.
The BBC is embroiled in another impartiality row
PA“I should point out, also, that Victoria Derbyshire did challenge Adam Boulton on the fact that he spoke as someone who is part of the established media and therefore might have a vested interest in criticising GB News.”
The Newsnight editor went on to add that the BBC had failed to host an adequately fair panel.
He said: “I’m happy to acknowledge that despite our best efforts this item was not quite as we might have wished it to have been.”
Davies’ email originally came about after concerns were raised about the BBC chat by “a number of constituents”.
No pro-GB News voice was offered during Newsnight's debate
BBC
The Tory MP opted to email the broadcaster’s director general Tim Davie, whose office then passed the email onto Maclean.
The BBC discussion saw two participants, Caroline Nokes and Adam Boulton, calling for The People’s Channel to lose its ability to broadcast.
“I think it should be taken off air”, Nokes said, despite having made nine appearances on the channel in the past.
“It was entirely predictable that Laurence fox was going to come out with a statement that was offensive.”
Caroline Nokes has appeared on GB News on nine occasions GB NEWSBoulton added that GB News is threatening a British broadcast “ecology”, and Ofcom should act by “shutting it down”, like it did in 2022 with RT.
The regulator found RT’s licensee “not fit and proper” to hold a UK broadcast licence while it was carrying out 29 investigations into the due impartiality of RT’s coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to GB News' request for comment, Nokes said: "The context of the discussion on Wednesday was around MPs hosting shows.
"I have never hosted a show on GB News, I have never been interviewed by a fellow MP hosting a show on GB News, I have only ever appeared as an interviewee or a panellist on any television programme.
Following Tuesday night's discussion on GB News, Wootton apologised “unreservedly” for a “very unfortunate lapse in judgement”.
Fox has also since apologised saying he was "sorry for demeaning" Evans.
A statement from GB News just hours after the remarks were made on Tuesday said: “Comments made tonight on GB News by Laurence Fox were totally unacceptable.
“What he said does not reflect our values and we apologise unreservedly for the comments and the offence they have caused.
“We have launched an investigation and will be apologising to the individual involved.”